Last September, I quit the low-rider band I'd been playing in for 10 years. I had started a little music/recording project with my niece earlier that year, and the drama in my old band was beginning to get tiresome. I wanted to do something else, and making music with one of the people I love the most just made a lot more sense to me. I've since become one of the go-to fill-in guys around town, so I've been doing more gigs than ever and meeting a lot of local players.
I sort of described the Love Ocean origin story in a previous post, so I won't repeat it all here. To make a long story short, due to a exponentially unlikely set of coincidences, my niece and I get together every once in a while and play/record hokey old reggae/rocksteady songs. I think of it as an intellectual exercise for both of us.
Anyway, I was filling in on bass with my old band last Easter. There was a family barbecue that day, and to be honest, I was kinda bummed that I was missing out on the carne asada tacos. The venue usually serves us some fairly mediocre pizza. During the last set, the li'l lady and my niece surprised me by coming to the gig. My niece was wearing a hilarious pink bunny suit, and she was trying to make me laugh the whole time. I had to look away to keep from busting up.
A few days later, I drop by the BL's house (he lives a few blocks away from me). He says, "Hey, who was that beautiful girl in the pink bunny suit?"
"That's my niece," I replied, "you know - the one I talk about all the time - she's the one I play music with."
BL says, "Well does she want to sit in with us?"
I txt'd her, she said, "Yes! I'd love to sit in with those guys!" I was on the calendar July 4th, so we set the date.
As it turned out, the new Love Ocean single was coming out on July 2. Perfect timing! I got together with the band for two rehearsals beforehand. We had horn arrangements on two songs, and the regular keyboard player was not going to be on the July 4. The conga player/singer was going to fill in on keyboard. The horns were fine - I had made arrangements with the trumpet player to write the charts and direct the horns. She's really good at that, and I knew I could rely upon her to follow through. My niece was going through a career change, and had to be at work early for the first time ever. Niece couldn't make rehearsal, but to be honest, I wasn't worried about her. The songs were easy changes, and she usually just memorizes her vocal part and goes for it. The keyboard player, and guitar player - yikes! They both said the could do it, but neither one could get the reggae feel at all. Both of them were fumbling over ice cream turnarounds. I left rehearsal saying, "Look guys - I don't care what you do, but you both need to work on your feels and get them down - I want you to make my niece to look good."
2nd rehearsal was also unnerving. Keyboard player couldn't make it, and the guitar player hadn't learned his part. Drummer and I tried to explain, "2-and, 4-and, 2-and, 4-and. Just play that consistently. Don't do anything else." I left that rehearsal saying to the guitar player, "Please... please... please... just learn that part."
Thursday before the gig, the drummer calls me and gives me the number of a local ringer named Dave. I've seen him play around town, and he's a great keyboard player. He's real passionate about all that reggae stuff. I called him - we talked for a while - he said he'd love to play with me and my niece, but he's got a gig in LA on July 4. I figured, "we'll be OK - the gig won't be as good as it could be, but we'll be fine." Dave called me the next morning, and as it turned out, the venue in LA was robbed the night before - the gig was cancelled. He wanted to come sit in with us that day.
I showed up to soundcheck and fired the keyboard player. He was off the hook, so he didn't care that much. He said Dave could use his rig. Niece shows up and did her soundcheck.
Anyway, we played three songs, and they sounded great. Dave pretty much steered the ship. The guitar player learned his parts and sounded good! My niece and I had a good time - we had tons of family there. Dave had a great time, and my niece and I talked with him for a while after the gig. Apparently there are a few videos floating around social media - a couple local guys have since asked us to open for them. We don't have a band, really, nor do we have a set. She and I just get together every once in a while, so I'm not sure how we'd both find time to put together a set. The BL in my old band wants us to come sit in with them more often.
Unfortunately, the only video I have is one the li'l lady shot (terrible cinema photography), and it's a song I posted for our last gig report! And, there's no horns! However, the performance is really good. I'll also attach a link to our new single.
I sort of described the Love Ocean origin story in a previous post, so I won't repeat it all here. To make a long story short, due to a exponentially unlikely set of coincidences, my niece and I get together every once in a while and play/record hokey old reggae/rocksteady songs. I think of it as an intellectual exercise for both of us.
Anyway, I was filling in on bass with my old band last Easter. There was a family barbecue that day, and to be honest, I was kinda bummed that I was missing out on the carne asada tacos. The venue usually serves us some fairly mediocre pizza. During the last set, the li'l lady and my niece surprised me by coming to the gig. My niece was wearing a hilarious pink bunny suit, and she was trying to make me laugh the whole time. I had to look away to keep from busting up.
A few days later, I drop by the BL's house (he lives a few blocks away from me). He says, "Hey, who was that beautiful girl in the pink bunny suit?"
"That's my niece," I replied, "you know - the one I talk about all the time - she's the one I play music with."
BL says, "Well does she want to sit in with us?"
I txt'd her, she said, "Yes! I'd love to sit in with those guys!" I was on the calendar July 4th, so we set the date.
As it turned out, the new Love Ocean single was coming out on July 2. Perfect timing! I got together with the band for two rehearsals beforehand. We had horn arrangements on two songs, and the regular keyboard player was not going to be on the July 4. The conga player/singer was going to fill in on keyboard. The horns were fine - I had made arrangements with the trumpet player to write the charts and direct the horns. She's really good at that, and I knew I could rely upon her to follow through. My niece was going through a career change, and had to be at work early for the first time ever. Niece couldn't make rehearsal, but to be honest, I wasn't worried about her. The songs were easy changes, and she usually just memorizes her vocal part and goes for it. The keyboard player, and guitar player - yikes! They both said the could do it, but neither one could get the reggae feel at all. Both of them were fumbling over ice cream turnarounds. I left rehearsal saying, "Look guys - I don't care what you do, but you both need to work on your feels and get them down - I want you to make my niece to look good."
2nd rehearsal was also unnerving. Keyboard player couldn't make it, and the guitar player hadn't learned his part. Drummer and I tried to explain, "2-and, 4-and, 2-and, 4-and. Just play that consistently. Don't do anything else." I left that rehearsal saying to the guitar player, "Please... please... please... just learn that part."
Thursday before the gig, the drummer calls me and gives me the number of a local ringer named Dave. I've seen him play around town, and he's a great keyboard player. He's real passionate about all that reggae stuff. I called him - we talked for a while - he said he'd love to play with me and my niece, but he's got a gig in LA on July 4. I figured, "we'll be OK - the gig won't be as good as it could be, but we'll be fine." Dave called me the next morning, and as it turned out, the venue in LA was robbed the night before - the gig was cancelled. He wanted to come sit in with us that day.
I showed up to soundcheck and fired the keyboard player. He was off the hook, so he didn't care that much. He said Dave could use his rig. Niece shows up and did her soundcheck.
Anyway, we played three songs, and they sounded great. Dave pretty much steered the ship. The guitar player learned his parts and sounded good! My niece and I had a good time - we had tons of family there. Dave had a great time, and my niece and I talked with him for a while after the gig. Apparently there are a few videos floating around social media - a couple local guys have since asked us to open for them. We don't have a band, really, nor do we have a set. She and I just get together every once in a while, so I'm not sure how we'd both find time to put together a set. The BL in my old band wants us to come sit in with them more often.
Unfortunately, the only video I have is one the li'l lady shot (terrible cinema photography), and it's a song I posted for our last gig report! And, there's no horns! However, the performance is really good. I'll also attach a link to our new single.
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